Lawmakers advance bill to deter sleeping at bus stops

A woman known only as "Princess" slept on the bus stop bench on the median at the Honolulu International Airport.

Lying down and obstructing a bus stop would become a form of disorderly conduct under a bill the Hawaii House of Representatives has passed.

The misdemeanor could result in a $50 fine.

The measure is aimed at keeping bus stops clear for travelers. But in pointed debate on the House floor this week, lawmakers argued that it could punish homeless people scrounging for shelter.

Lawmakers called the measure hypocritical to pass while they are also advancing a Homeless Bill of Rights that would define and protect the civil rights of homeless people. Rep. Jo Jordan told her colleagues any unpaid fines could keep a person from qualifying for public housing assistance.

Hawaii has the most homeless people per capita among U.S. states. The Senate will vote on the bill next.

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ippikiokamiwrote:

"Hawaii has the most homeless people per capita among U.S. states." Wow.

on February 28,2014 | 02:19PM

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konag43wrote:

why do we need a civil rights bill to protect the homeless we already have enough civil rights lawa for everybody what makes the homeless so special they need a special law. a waiste of tax payers money and legislator time. who is the idiot that drew up this bill. so your saying the homeless have more rights then me a tax paying citizen .
and i agree get them off the public bus stops and sidewalks.

on February 28,2014 | 03:21PM

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Uncleart66wrote:

No sleeping in the city council too.

on February 28,2014 | 03:29PM

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loiowrote:

the more you feed the mainland pigeons, the more mainland pigeons you get. hawaii also the the most generous welfare benefits in the country. coincidence?

on February 28,2014 | 03:52PM

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soshaljusticwrote:

I still say, for the visitor from another state, the feds need to auto-adjust all social-benefits accordingly when the visitor does not leave and finds him/herself on the rolls of the social-service system. This is a process that should be occurring on an inter-state exchange system. Obviously this greatly benefits the tax-payer in releasing the encumbrance upon States that bear the burden for high populations of homeless people, when reducing the social monetary subsidy to the state that reduces its population through attrition via homeless emmigration.